Dr. Kristiina Kaldas (senior researcher)
kristiina.kaldas@taltech.ee
Kristiina holds a Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD from Tallinn University of Technology. She earned her doctoral degree in 2021 with a dissertation titled "Wet air oxidation of oil shale", which focused on the direct valorization of kerogen into dicarboxylic acids through environmentally sustainable methods. Since 2022, she has been the Head of the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory and leads several innovative projects aimed at improving the sustainability of industrial processes. Her guiding principle is: "Every material can be processed in an environmentally friendly way - you just need to know the right tools." Outside of work, Kristiina enjoys singing and spending time with her family.
Professor Emeritus Margus Lopp (leading researcher)
margus.lopp@taltech.ee
Professor Emeritus Andres Siirde (chief officer)
andres.siirde@taltech.ee
CV
Dr. Birgit Mets (senior researcher)
birgit.mets@taltech.ee
Birgit defended her doctoral thesis at the age of 27 (in 2018), with a focus on oil shale pyrolysis processes. While her academic background includes a Bachelor's and Master's in Chemistry and a PhD more closely related to mechanical engineering, her career path has brought her back to the field of chemistry. In addition to her work at TalTech, she has also worked at Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie and the University of Tartu. A passionate advocate for thermal analysis, Birgit is the founder of the Estonian Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Society. Since 2024, she has served as the head of the youth program of ICTAC (International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry). She is currently also working at the Geological Survey of Estonia as a technological expert for the phosphorite project.
Dr. Jaan Mihkel Uustalu (chief officer)
jaan.uustalu@taltech.ee
Jaan is a chemical engineer with a PhD from Lund University. His dissertation focused on the polymerization of primary polyvinyl chloride particles. He has extensive experience in both the chemical and mechanical engineering industries and served for 20 years on the supervisory board of Viru Keemia Grupp. For the past 6 years, he has been working at the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory of Tallinn University of Technology on the valorization of kukersite oil shale. As a result of this work, an innovative production process named "Kerox" has been registered.
Dr. Mariliis Kimm (researcher)
mariliis.kimm@taltech.ee
Mariliis earned her Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees in Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology from Tallinn University of Technology. In 2013, she joined the research group of Professor Tõnis Kanger, where her doctoral research focused on the development of novel asymmetric organocatalytic reactions. As a visiting doctoral student, she expanded her expertise at the University of Amsterdam in the research group of Professor Jan H. Maarseveen, working on the synthesis of mechanically chiral [2]rotaxanes. Mariliis defended her PhD in 2021 and subsequently joined the group of Associate Professor Maksim Ošeka, where she investigated electrochemical reactions in continuous flow systems. In 2024, she became a member of the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory.
Dr. Estelle Silm (researcher)
estelle.silm@taltech.ee
Estelle holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology. Her thesis work at both levels focused on synthetic organic chemistry and was conducted within the research group of Professor Margus Lopp. During her Master's studies, she spent a semester at the National University of Singapore, further broadening her academic experience. In 2022, Estelle defended her PhD under the supervision of Professor Tõnis Kanger, with a dissertation titled "Asymmetric Organocatalytic Reactions of Cyclopentane-1,2-dione". That same year, she joined the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory. In addition to her research activities, Estelle contributes to teaching and actively participating in various science outreach and public engagement events.
Vijay Kumar (early stage researcher)
vijayt@taltech.ee
Vijay holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Chemistry from Bangalore University, with a specialization in organic chemistry. With over five years of experience in the research and development sector, he has gained extensive expertise in medicinal chemistry and the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds withing the field of synthetic organic chemistry. In 2025, Vijay began doctoral studies at the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory of Tallinn University of Technology. His current research focuses on mechanochemical organic synthesis and its applications in sustanable industrial processes.
Kati Muldma (early stage researcher)
kati.muldma@taltech.ee
Kati earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology from Tallinn University of Technology, specializing in analytical chemistry. In 2017, she joined the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory, where she focused on analytical work supporting various research activities. In 2023, Kati began her doctoral studies, with her current research centered on the characterization of secondary raw materials and the exploration of their potential applications in sustainable industrial processes.
Maria Reinaas (industrial doctorant student)
maria.reinaas@taltech.ee
Maria holds an integrated Master's degree from Durham University in the United Kingdom. Her master's thesis focused on the utilization of waste materials - specifically ochre and struvite - for the synthesis of catalysts, particularly ionic solid compounds such as Mg-Fe double layered hydroxides and metal oxides. She also investigated the application of these catalysts in biodiesel production within the framework of a circular economy. Her doctoral research is based on the Kerox project, conducted in collaboration with Kerogen OÜ, which aims to develop direct conversion processes for oil shale into raw materials for the chemical industry. The objective of her PhD work is to study the chemical and practical foundations of kerogen oxidation, particularly the Kerox technology, with the aim of contributing to the development of a competitive, low-environmental-impact industrial process.
Violetta Umerenkova (early stage researcher)
violetta.umerenkova@taltech.ee
Violetta earned both her Bachalor's and Master's degrees from Tallinn University of Technology. She has been involved in the field of analytical chemistry for the past four years. In 2024, she joined the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory, where her current work focuses on the analysis of oil shale ash and dicarboxylic acids using capillary electrophoresis.
Villem Ödner Koern (engineer)
villem.odner@taltech.ee
Villem earned his Bachelor's degree in 2024 in Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics and is currently pursuing his Master's studies in the same field. At the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory, he focuses on the engineering aspects that enhance the industrial functionality of the laboratory - automation, mechanical systems, reactor construction, and maintenance.
Kristi Rõuk (engineer)
kristi.rouk@taltech.ee
Kristi earned her Bachelor's degree from Tallinn University of Technology and defended her Master's thesis in 2023, titled "Connecting the A,B- and D-ring Fragments of 9,11-secosterols Through Michael Addition". The thesis was recognized for its high scientific quality, and she is a co-author of several peer-reviewed publications on the subject. Kristi's research interests have since shifted from 9,11-secosterols to oil shale. Her current work focuses on the structural investigation of Estonian oil shale (kukersite) and the its transformation to valuable fine chemicals.
Angelica Närep (engineer)
angelica.narep@taltech.ee
Angelica is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology at Tallinn University of Technology. She completed her Bachelor's studies in 2024 in Applied Chemistry, Food and Gene Technology, with her thesis titled "Methylation of Phenolic Compounds with Dimethyl Carbonate". She joined the Industrial Chemistry Laboratory in early 2022 and is currently involved in elemental analysis of solid materials as part of her daily work. In addition to her academic and laboratory responsibilities, Angelica also leads various chemistry workshops at Mektory, promoting science through hands-on learning and outreach activities.
Galina Varlamova (project assistant)
galina.varlamova@taltech.ee